Nestled in the western foothills of the Blue Mountains, the Lithgow Small Arms Factory is a landmark that means a lot to this industrial city.

Opened in 1912 after concern during the Boer War that Australia needed its own weapons and ammunition factory, the facility was built by local builders and fitted out by US company Pratt and Whitney.

"Lithgow was ultimately selected as the site because of its location. It was remote from sea and the local availability of iron and coal made it suitable," says Brian Maloney, a volunteer at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum.

With his flowing white hair and large 1970s-style glasses, Brian has a thorough knowledge of the weapons produced at the Lithgow factory.

In its early days, a totally unskilled workforce of men and women produced 250 rifles every week.

As the First World War broke out in 1914, the workforce grew. People flocked to Lithgow to build the weapons their children would carry in battle.

"As soon as the war started, the need for guns greatly increased and more machinery was imported. More people were recruited locally, to the point where they strained the local infrastructure," says Brian.

Lithgow became a shanty town of sorts, with workers living in tents and derelict houses. 'Hot beds' were common, where employees at the factory hopped from bed to bed as the shifts changed, desperate to get any sleep they could.

"It didn't really improve until after the depression- and, even during the Second World War there was a rush to put up duration houses," says Brian.

"By the end of the war they had made about 15,000 rifles and were fairly well-equipped."

For the workers, the Lithgow Small Arms Factory was a rough place to earn a crust.

The factory floor was cramped; leather belts hung from the rafters and whirred at dizzying pace.

"The machines were open; they were noisy and dusty; there were no guards on them; there were no requirements for hearing, hair or foot protection," says Brian.

There were deaths on the factory floor, and injuries like lost fingers and thumbs, or industrial deafness. However, there weren't as many as you might expect.

"The factory had quite a good safety record for its day. It was just because of the industrial climate at the time," Brian says.

As the bloodbath 'war to end all wars' came to an end in 1918, many were not expecting another global conflict to break out.

As the workforce in Lithgow now had a range of skills to their name, the factory kept operating. They stopped producing guns, and instead focused on making shears, golf clubs and parts for kitchen appliances.

What a contrast, from deadly rifles to cupcake-mixing beaters.

But inevitably war broke out again and Australia was called to arms.

"The factory expanded greatly during the Second World War to a maximum of 6000 people working in Lithgow and another 6000 in the feeder factories in the surrounding towns," says Brian.

During World War Two, an average of 4500 weapons was produced each week in Lithgow during the peak of the conflict. Lithgow supplied weapons to not only the Australian forces, but also New Zealand and other allies.

Since then, the factory has continued operating as a corporatised entity, and still maintains the contract for the maintenance of the Australian military's rifles and equipment.

"Just recently they have branched out and started production of a commercial crossover rifle, which they hope will do the same sort of thing for their production as the inter-war commercial production did," says Brian.

"As a town, Lithgow is very proud of the factory and its accomplishments. Three quarters of the town depended on it, either for their work or ancillary services.